and went up into a mountain and sat down there 30. And great multitudes came unto him having with them those that were lame blind dumb maimed and many others and cast them down at Jesus feet and he healed them 29 30. Note How earnestly will men seek for bodily heaâ—th who are senseless of their Souls concerns If Christs Ministers could give all men health and wealth what abundance of followers would they have and who would for this imprison persecute or silence them 31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered when they saw the dumb to speak â—â—e maimed to be whole the lame to walk and the blind to see and they glorified the God of Israel 31. Note Great and sensâ—ble Miracles and 〈◊〉 force men to acknowledge the hand of God and to praise him 32. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said I have compassion on the multitude because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat I will not send them away fasting lest they faint by the way 33. And his disciples say to him Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness as to fill so great a multitude 34. And Jesus saith to them How many loaves have ye and they said Seven and a few fishes 35. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground 36. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes and gave thanks and brake them and gave to his disciples and the disciples to the multitude 37. and they did all eat and were filled and took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full 38. And they that did eat were four thousand men beside women and children 39. And he sent away the multitude and took ship and came into the coasts of Magdala 32 c. This was the second Miracle of compassionate feeding the hungry Is not Christ in Heaven as merciful and sufficient for Soul and body as he was on Earth CHAP. XVI 1. THe Pharisees also with the Sadducees came and tempting desired him to shew them a sign from heaven 1. Not believing the reports of all his Miracles they desired that they themselves might see some sign from Heaven which might certainly prove that God had sent him thinking that he could not do it 2. He answered and said to them when it is evening ye say it will be fair weather for the sky is red 3. And in the morning It will be foul weather to day for the sky is red and lowring O ye hypocrites ye can discern the face of the sky but can ye not discern the signs of the times 2 3. You can conjecture what weather will be by the sky And is it to you so hard a matter to know by my doctrine and all the miracles and good works that I have done that I am sent of God that you must prescribe what signs God shall shew you from heaven before you will believe 4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas And he left them and departed 4. When your own wickedness hindereth you bebelief you call for a sign from heaven to convince you But I again tell you you shall have no sign but that of the Prophet Jonah He that is filthy let him be filthy still 5. And when his disciples were come to the other side they had forgotten to take bread 6. Then Jesus said to them Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees 5 6. Note Christ doth not bid them to avoid all converse with these men or not to hear them read the Law of Moses but to take heed of receiving any of their false doctrine 7. And they reasoned among themselves saying It is because we have taken no bread 8. Which when Jesus perceived he said to them O ye of little faith why reason ye among your selves because ye have brought no bread 9. Do ye not yet understand neither remember ye the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets ye took up 10. Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets ye took up 11. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake not to you concerning bread that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees 12. Ten understood they how that he bade them not beware of of the leaven of bread but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees 7 c. We are dull of understanding till Christ instruct us and apt to put a carnal sence upon his words 13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying Whom do men say that I the Son of man am 13. Note Christ would not so much as urge his own Disciples to confess him to be the Christ till his works were a cogent testimony that their faith might not be precarious nor by bare command but by convincing evidence 14. And they said Some say thou art John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremias or one of the Prophets 14. Note 1. Men were convinced that he was of God that is the multitude but not the Rulers But they thought he was not the Messiah but some great Prophets Soul in a new body 2. By this it is evident that the multitude then believed the immortality of the Soul else they could not think that those Souls came into other Bodies 15 16. He saith to them But whom say ye that I am And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the son of the living God 15 16. Note 1. It was meet that those that were to preach Christ to others should be brought to an open confession of him themselves 2. It s like the rest believed as Peter tho he only spake 17. And Jesus answered and said to him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jonah for flesh and bloud hath not revealed it to thee but my Father who is in heaven 17. It is a point of so great importance to Sanctification Justification and Salvation verily to believe me to be the Christ and Saviour that this faith is the evidence and means of thy blessedness It is not mere man that hath revealed this so as to make thee a true believer but my heavenly Father by my works and word and by his grace 18. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it 18. And as thou hast consest me to be Christ I will say to thy comfort that as thy name signifieth a Rock or Stone So by thee and thy brethren I will build my Church on this Rock agaist which all the powers of Hell the Devils and wicked men shall not prevail Note 1. It is a great controversie whether by this Rock be meant 1. Christ himself 2. Or the faith and confession of Christ
3. Or Peter himself But no doctrinal controversie dependeth on it For all three are certain truths 1. No doubt but primarily Christ is the Rock on which the Church is built 2. And no doubt but Faith and Confession being the condition of our part in Christ the Church is so far built thereon 3. And no doubt but the Apostles are called Foundation stones on which the Church is built and therefore Peter whose name importeth it and was a chief speaker among them as the foreman of a Jury 2. Though the Powers of Hell may seem to prevail as they did over Christ while he was on the Cross they are then next an overthrow themselves 19. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 19. And hereafter I will make thee a ruling Steward over my Church as it is Gods Kingdom on earth preparatory to the Heavenly Kingdom of Glory and the due administration of thy office by these Keys of Power shall be the ordinary way to Heaven and a forerunner of the finall Justification of the Faithful and of the final condemnation of the Impenitent and ungodly whom by my doctrine and the due application of it thou bindest over to my judgment Note As Peter was the foreman or speaker in their common confession so by Peter the promise is made to them all And to them all Christ after gave this power But he never made Peter governour of the rest of the Apostles Much less the Pope 20. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ 20. N. Because this honour was reserved chiefly 1. To the time of the accomplishment of all the evidences by his Resurrection and Ascension and giving of the Holy Ghost 2. And to the work of the Spirit then on the Apostles by which they were suddenly advanced to a fitness for this work above what they attained by Christs personal teaching them on earth 21. From that time forth began Jesus to shew to his disciples how that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day 21. Note 1. This Christ did 1. To make them know that he knew things to come 2. And to make them know that it was not to reign as an earthly King that he was sent 3. And to prepare them to bear his sufferings and not to expect fleshly prosperity by him 2. It was the Poor that followed Christ and the Rulers and Teachers that crucified him 22. Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee 22. Peter contradicted him saying God forbid Lord favour thy self and expose not thy self to this Note 1. The flesh is ready to suggest fleshly counsel and to oppose all that tends to suffering 2. We have need to be fortified against temptations of loving friends as well as enemies 23. But he turned and said to Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence to me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men 23. He lookt at him with displeasure and said to Peter I say to thee as I did to the Devil when he tempted me Get thee behind me for thou doest the work of Satan the adversary in tempting me for self-preservation to violate my Fathers command and my undertaking and to forsake the work of mans Redemption and Salvation As thy counsel savoureth not the things that be of God his will work and Glory but the things that be of men the love of the body and this present life so it signifieth what is in thy heart take heed lest this carnality prevail Note 1. All things must displease us that displease God and are against his interest and the good of man 2. Even the best men and nearest friends may by temptation and errour be made Satans instruments to do his work in some particulars of great moment 3. Good men do the Devils work oft times when they know it not but verily think it is all for Christ 4. No love or respect to mens nearness or goodness must draw us to flatter them in sin or to speak lightly of it we must not mince it or extennate it because good men commit it we must lay it home on them that would by justifying it make it pass for duty Lest the name of Good men should serve Satan more effectually than men of known wickedness can do 5. It is no railing on just occasions to tell tempting friends and godly men or Ministers that they are doing the Devils woâ—k and are instead of Devils to the tempted To hinder us in Gods work and mens Salvation is to be Satans to us O how many Satans then are called Reverend Fathers who silence and persecute men for Gods work as the whole course of the Papal Discipline and worship manifesâ—â—th 7. It is carnal savouring worldly and fleshly interest too much and the things of God the Soul and Heaven to little which is the common cause of the sinful counsels and course even of Sacred men 24. Then said Jesus to his disciples If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 25. For whoever will save his life shall lose it and whoever will lose his liâ—e for my sake shall find it 24. Christ took this occasion to preach self-denial to his Disciples saying Let him that will be my Disciple and follow me and expect Salvation by me resolve to deny his carnal self and self-interest and resign himself to me as being not his own but mine Not making the cross but patiently taking and bearing it when it is laid upon him and follow me by sufferings unto glory For this is the method determined by God that whoever resolveth to save his life and not be undone in the world to avoid sin this man shall finally lose his life and life eternal And whoever will lose his life rather than by sin to forsake me and his duty shall find that life with felicity in heaven which he lost on earth N. Christs peremptory terms of Salvation are to prefer it and him before our lives 26. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul 26. Will it not be an ill bargain to gain all the world for a short time to the flesh and lose ones own Soul and its happiness for ever And what will compensate the loss of the Soul For what price would you sell its happiness N. 1. Men hath a Soul that liveth when he leaveth this world 2. It were a mad bargain to sell a mans Soul for all that this world
that it was neither Peter nor Paul Circumstances have perswaded me that Christianity came first into England by Christian Soldiers that were in the Roman Army such as built the Church called St. Martins near Canturbury which Beda mentioneth And it is more probable that such as Cornelius being Converted in Judea and having their dependance on Rome and business there were like to be the first introducers of of Christianity there As such were in Helvetia 16. And vvhen vve came to Rome the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a souldier that kept him 16. One Soldier was his Guard 17. And it came to pass that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jevvs togeâ—her And vvhen they vvere come together he said unto them Men and brethren though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers yet vvas I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans 18. Who vvhen they had examined me vvould have let me go because there was no cause of death In me 19. But vvhen the Jevvs spake against it I was constrained to appeal unto Cesat not that I have ought to accuse my nation of 17. Note Though Paul Preached against the Gentiles subjection to Moses Law yet to the Jews he only spake against the imposing it as necessary on others and against its justifying Power without Christ 19. I appealed in my own necessary Defence and not as an Accuser of the Jews 20. For this cause therefore have I called for you to see you and to speak vvith you because that for the hope of Israel I am bound vvith this chain 20. It is for Preaching that Messiah who hath long been expected and prayed for as the Hope of Israel that I am come hither a Prisoner in this Chain 21. And they said unto him We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee neither any of the brethren that came shevved or spake any harm of thee 22. But vve desire to hear of thee vvhat thou thinkest for as concerning this sect vve knovv that every vvhere it is spoken against 21. We have had no Accusation of thee but that we may be able to judge of thee we would hear thee our selves what it is that thou holdest and teachest For Christians are every where spoken aganist as an evil Sect. Note He that would know how far to regard common fame against any man or party must know what sort of people they be that report it whether Men of truth sobriety and conscience or debaucht ungodly malignant sâ—oundrils And by what motives they are set on work whether by Gods word and will or by Carnal interests and flattery of Great and ungodly Worldlings or enmity to Holy Doctrine and Practice And what Eviedence they give to prove their Accusations 23. And vvhen they had appointed him a day there came many to him into his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God perswading them concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets from morning till evening 23. He proved to them out of the Law and Prophets that Christ was the Messiah whose Kingdom is spiritual and is now begun as foretold upon his Resurrection and Ascension and gathering an Universal Church by the Miracles Gifts and Grace of the Holy Ghost 24. And some believed the things vvhich vvere spoken and some believed not 25. And vvhen they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers 26. Saying Go unto this people and say Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive 27. For the heart of this people is vvaxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed lest they should see vvith their eyes and hear with their ears and understand vvith their heart and should be converted and I should heal them 26. You verifie the words of the Prophets being like your fore fathers of whom Isaiah saith that though they have their Natural faculties of seeing hearing and understanding yet they have willfully so indisposed and corrupted them that as to the knowledge and obedience of God they are as if they had neither Eyes Ears or Understanding from whence it is that my resisted and rejected Grace doth not Convert and heal them 28. Be it knovvn therefore unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they vvill hear it 28. Be it known to you that the Christ whom you reject shall be Preached to the Gentiles and they will believe in him and receive him for their Saviour And Christ will set up among them the Catholick Church and Kingdom of God which you reject and shall therefore be none of yours that boasted in your expectations of it 29. And vvhen he had said these vvords the Jevvs departed and had great reasonings among themselves 29. Note But so many of them believed both at Rome Jerusalem and many Countrys as were a considerable part of the Christian Church at that time And within four hundred years Christianity was the professed National Religion in Judea 30. And Paul dvvelt tvvo vvhole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him 31. Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbidding him 30. And Paul was so free a Prisoner that he was allowed to live in his own hired house and there for two years received all how many soever great or small who came to him Preaching even in Imperious Rome the Kingdom of God as Ruling Souls to Salvation by the Redeemer Teaching all the Doctrines and Practices of Christianity the History of Christ his Person Office Acts Grace and Glory and this with all boldness and freedom NO MAN FORBIDDING HIM silencing him or condemning them for Conventicles or any way hindring him even in Proud Powerful Heathen Rome When the Religious Jewish Priests and Rulers hunted Christs Ministers as Blood-hounds forbidding them to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved and so wrath is come upon them to the uttermost as it will in due time on all that imitate them Note 1. What Paul Preached not vain jangling or envious railing but the Kingdom of God and the things concerning Jesus Christ and Salvation 2. Where In Rome and in his own hired house 3. To whom To all that come to him 4. How long Two years at that time 5. How with all confidence openness and boldness 6. How tolerated No man Emperour or Senate or inferior Officer Soldiers or Magistrates Priests or People hindering or forbidding him in the Capital Heathen City of the World which yet was devoted to Idolatry and capvated the Church of God both Jews and Gentiles But had Paul Preached immorality Rebellion
vulgar whom you villifie I will tell you a Parable c. 32. They say to him The first Jesus saith to them Verily I say to you that the Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you 32. For John came to you in the way of Righteousness and ye believed him not But the Publicans and the Harlots believed him And ye when ye had seen it repented not afterward that ye might believe him 32. These despised Sinners Believed John and repented which you with all your Knowledge did not nor yet do and so are further from the Kingdom of God than they having no obedient religion but Words and Ceremonies 33. Hear another Parable There was a certain housholder who planted a Vineyard and hedged it round about and digged a wine press in it and built a town and let it out to husbandmen and went into a far country 33. Note God did what was necessary to have made the Jews a happy Church as to means prepared By digging a Wine-press is meant hollowing a Trough to bruise the Grapes in and building a Tower is a Lodge or Dwelling for the Workmen 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits of it 34. God required the Fruit of all his Teachings and Mercies to the Jews 35. And the husbandmen took his servants and beat one and killed another and stoned another 36. And he sent other servants more then the first and they did to them likewise 35.36 They Persecuted and Murdered the Prophets Age after Age and yet seemed to honour Prophets 37. But last of all he sent unto them his Son saying They will reverence my Son 37. N. This doth not mean that God thought so and was Mistaken But speaking after the manner of Men tells them what he might requite in reason of them 38. But when the husbandmen saw the Son they said among themselves This is the Heir Come let us kill him and let us seize on the inheritance 39. And they caught him and cast him out of the Vineyard and slew him 38.39 Note This meaneth not that the Jews reckon him to be the Son of God but might and should have known it 40. When the Lord therefore of the Vineyard cometh what will he do to those husband-men 41. They say to him He will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his Vineyard to other Husband-men who shall render him the fruits in their season 40.41 Thus God will destroy the Murderous Jews and call the Gentiles N. Luke reciteth these words as Christs and that the Pharisees said God forbid It 's like they consented to it till they heard it applyed to themselves and then said God forbid 42. Jesus saith to them Did you never read in the Scriptures The stone which the builders rejected the same is become the head of the Corner This is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes 42. Note Tho this was spoken Psal 118. immediately of David it ultimately meant Christ who should be the Foundation and Head of the Church when the Jews had Crucifyed him 43. Therefore I say to you The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof 43. I tell you this doleful Truth you that boasted of your peculiarity and hopes of the Kingdom of the Messiah shall be deprived of it for your Sin and it shall be given to the Gentiles who will better entertain it and obey it and be thankful for it 44. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken But on whosoever it shall fall it shall grind him to powder 44. Bare Unbelief of such as stumble at the Cross or turn away from Christ through offence and Temptation will undoe all that continue in it But those that prove Malignant Enemies and fight against Christ he will be as a Stone too heavy for him that taketh it up to cast away which will fall upon them to their greater Destruction 45.46 And when the chief Priests and Pharisees had heard his Parable they perceived he spake of them But when they sought to lay hands on him they fear'd the multitude because they took him for a prophet 45.46 N. 1. Personal close reproofs and denunciation of Gods Judgments enrageth hardned Sinners 2. The Jews that applauded Christ thought it no Sedition to defend a Prophet against their High Priest and Rulers who for fear of them durst not openly take Christ CHAP. XXII 1. ANd Jesus answered and spake again to them by Parables and said 2. The Kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king who made a marriage for his son 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding and they would not come 1 2 3. The calling of men into the Church is like a Kings inviting Guests to his Sons Marriage feast that would not come 4. Again he sent forth other servants saying Tell them who were bidden Behold I have prepared my dinner my oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come unto the marriage 4. Christs Ministers are oft to invite men and importune them to come in and to tell them that Christ and his merits are sufficient for them and all is ready and done on his part preparatory to their belief reception and consent they shall not perish for want of a sufficient Sacrifice 5. But they made light of it and went their way one to his farm and another to his merchandize 6. And the remnant took his servants and intreated them shamefully and slew them 5 6. Note As did the Jews so do many others make light of Christ and all his offers of Grace and Glory and mind more their Farms and Merchandize their worldly interest and prosperity And others more wicked than they do persecute those that would convert and save them O odious unthankfulness thus to requite the greatest offers of Christ and his servants 7. But when the king heard thereof he was wroth and sent forth his armies and destroyed those murtherers and burnt up their city 7. Note So did God send the Romans to destroy the Jews and burn Jerusalem and hath often plagued persecutors and the day of revenge will come 8. Then said he to his servants The wedding is ready but they which were bidden were not worthy 9. Go ye therefore into the high-ways and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage 8 9. All was ready on Christs part but the Jews unworthily rejected him Go call all the Gentiles that will come 10. So those servants went out into the high-ways and gathered together all as many as they found both bad and good and the wedding was furnished with guests 10. So the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles of all sorts and high and low came in to the Church 11. And when the king came in to see his guests he saw there a
well stricken in years 8. And it came to pass that while he executed the priests office before God in the order of his course 9. According to the custom of the priests office his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense 7 8 9 10. Note The Priest went into the sanctuary to offer and the people that while prayed without the Sanctuary not without the Temple In imitation of which our Temples usually are built in three parts The Chancel for the Clergy the body of the Church for the Laity and all below the Font for the Catechumens and suspended who are no communicants as the outward Court was for Gentiles 11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense 12. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him 13. But the angel said unto him Fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shall call his name John 14. And thou shall have joy and gladness and many shall rejoyce at his birth 11 12 13 14. He was born to an austere life and and to martyrdom yet his birth was joyful though to such a painful life and death for the Churches service 15. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb 15. Note 1. The best men and most useful are greatest in Gods sight 2. Extraordinary denying the flesh agreeth well with the extraordinary gift of the Spirit 3. Infants may have the Holy-Ghost before it appeareth 16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn the Lord their God 6. Note To turn many by repentance to God was the effect of the Holy-Ghost and of Johns extraordinary worth and work 17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 17. He shall be possessed with such fulness of Spirit and Power to prepare the way for Christ as Elias had as is propheci'd in Mal. 4.6 Note By turning the hearts of the Fathers to the Children some think is meant turning the tyrannical oppression of Rulers to fatherly love and lenity to inferiours But Dr. H. more probably translateth it with the Children That is he shall turn Fathers and Children old and young Others say it is but to turn mens minds to the Love of one another and those that disobey God to the true wisdom of just men who obey and trust him 18. And Zacharias said unto the angel Whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years 19. And the angel answering said unto him I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to shew thee these glad tidings 20. And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak untill the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season 18 19 20. I am one of the many Angels that stand before God and am sent to tell thee this And to reprove thy unbelief And to convince thee for a sign thou shalt be dumb c. 21. And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple 22. And when he came out he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckned unto them and remained speechless 21 22. Sanctuary 22. Some Revelation 23. And it came to pass that assoon as the days of his ministration were accomplished he departed to his own house 23. That Ceremonious service might be done by a dumb man but so cannot the Gospel Ministration 24. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid her self five months saying 25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men 24 25. She retired from Peoples observation and discourse saying the Lord hath shewed me mercy in taking away my reproach 26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth 27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the the virgins name was Mary 26 27. Not married but betrothed 28. And the angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women 28. Rejoice for thou art highly favoured of the Lord who maketh thee blessed above all women 29. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be 30. And the angel said unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God 31. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus 32. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David 29 30 31 32. She understood it not That Glorious Kingdom meant in the promise to Davids seed of which his Kingdom was but a type 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end 33. His Kingdom over the Faithful Israel of God begun in grace shall be Everlasting in Glory 34. Then said Mary unto the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man 35. And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 34 35. This shall be done without Man by the Holy Ghost and the overshaddowing power of God and therefore he shall be properly called the Son of God N. 1. Though this give us the most known reason why Christ is called the Son of God in Scripture it is not said to be the only reason excluding his eternal Generation 2. Yet Christ oft calleth himself the Son of Man which signifieth no more but that he was truly a Man and born of a woman 36. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth moneth with her who was called barren 37. For with God nothing shall be unpossible 36 37. Note 1. Though Elizabeth was of the Tribe of Aaron and Mary of the Tribe of Judah they were a kin by Elizabeths Mother marrying a Levite 2. Nothing should seem difficult to
Grace and Office that one of us planteth and another watereth and it is the same Spirit that moveth us and the same Gospel which we preach But we also have our different Measure of Gifts Grace and Labour and so shall we have of our Reward 9. For we are labourers together with God ye are Gods husbandry ye are Gods building 9. For we are all but Gods Ministers Fellow-labourers each with other having our several Parts to do ye are not our Husbandry and Building and Church but Gods 10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me as a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon 10. As God gave me an extraordinary Call and Grace my Work hath been that of an Architect or Chief Builder and accordingly I have laid the Foundation of many Churches preaching Christ where none before believed and another hath come after me to build them up But let every Man take heed that he teach nothing but what is true and sound 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 11. Let him not alter the Foundation which I have laid For there is no other but Christ or the Essentials of Christianity 12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble 13. Every mans work shall be made manifest For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is 12 13. And what following Teachers build on this Foundation God will bring to trial and manifest If it be sound and holy Gold Silver Precious Stones God will approve and bless it If it be Errour or Carnal Policy or corrupt Mixtures or things unprofitable God will try and disown it by his Spirit and by the Fire of Persecution 14. If any mans work abide which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward 14. If his Labour and Doctrine prove sound and endure Gods Furnace in trial he shall be rewarded 15. If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire 15. If it prove that such Teachers have erred and misled the People Gods Trial will turn such Labour to their grief as worse than lost But if he practically hold the Foundation he shall be pardoned and saved yet not without the trying Furnace which shall detect his Errour and teach him better to his cost 16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 16. Know ye not that your Souls severally and your Church collectively are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you and among you and therefore you must be holy 17. If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the temple of God is holy which temple ye are 17. God will destroy them that profane his holy Temple and defile it with the things which he abhorreth And you and your Churches are this holy Temple if you are holy and his indeed 18. Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool that he may be wise 18. Let none of you deceive himself by pretended Wisdom which is not Spiritual and doth not purifie Heart and Life like those that boast of Wisdom and live in the filth of Sin If any Man among you be pufft up with the Conceit of this Philosophical worldly Wisdom let him know that it is but Folly and be convinced of his Ignorance that he may humbly learn of Christ and be made truly wise 19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written He taketh the wise in their own craftiness 20. And again The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain 19 20. For all that Men call Learning and Wisdom which doth but serve a worldly Interest and saveth not the Soul from Sin and Hell is meer Foolishness in Gods account For it proâ—eth but a Snare to themselves and vapoureth away as Idleness and Vanity As it is written c. 21. Therefore let no man glory in men for all things are yours 22. Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours 23. And ye are Christs and Ghrist is Gods 21. Therefore think not over-highly of any Man especially for his worldly Wisdom and Learning or boasting that he knoweth more than others For all Teachers and their Wisdom are but Gods Gifts for your good Apostles Providence Life or Death all are for your Salvation and that is best to you that maketh you best The End must direct you to judge of the Means and so of Teachers They are for you and your Salvation and you are Christs and for his Glory and Christ as Man and Mediator is God's and for his Glory ANNOTATIONS WE see here that Sects Factions and Divisions are the Works of the Flesh and signifie a Mind that is so far carnal and that this cometh usually by preferring and setting Teacher against Teacher Not but that the great difference of Worth and Grace must be acknowledged and valued but not made an â—ccasion of Division but of Concord all being Gods Ministers for the Churches Common Good in the various Measure of their Gifts The Carnal are Headed by Man and the Spiritual by Christ only though Men be their Helpers And Cephas is here named as if it were on foresight that the Roman Bishop would make himself such an Head on pretence of being his Successour CHAP. IV. 1. LEt a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God 1. I speak not all this to draw you from the due honour of faithful Ministers Account us neither more nor less but as the Ministers of Christ for your Salvation and Stewards called and trusted with the just ministration of the mysteries of God that is the sound preaching of his word and due application of it and administration of his Sacraments and power of the Keyes to judge who shall be baptized and live as fit in holy Communion with his viâ—ible Churches 2. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful 2. And it is required of Stewards especially that have so great a trust that they be faithful and answer that trust in matter and manner and application and that they falsifie not God's word nor corrupt his Worship or Church nor betray or neglect Souls nor turn over their proper trust and work to others 3. But with me it is a very small-thing that I should be judged of you or of mans judgment Yea I judge not mine own self 3. And if any among you censure me I account it a very small
promised or as Incarnate and were no paâ—t of that peculiar People the Jews but Aliens whom they justly refused Communion with and were Strangers from the Covenant which promised Peculiarity and so had none of the hope of Redemption which those Promises gave nor knew how as reconciled to be accepted of God and lived as Atheists without the true Knowledge of God or Trust in him or Obedience to him though you had many Idols 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ 13. But now ye are Christians you are brought as nigh God as the believing Jews the Partition being taken down and the Covenant of Grace founding an Universal Church purchased and sealed by the Blood of Christ whose peculiar People now ye are 14. For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us 14. For he is the Maker of our Peace with God and one another and hath taken away the Division between Jews and Gentiles which was like the Wall which kept the Gentiles in the outer Court of the Temple and opened to us all a way into the Sanctuary 15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace 15. Being Man in the common Nature of Man and offering his Body a Sacrifice for the Sins of all he hath abolisheâ— the Law of Moses which contained Ordinances Ceremonial Typical and Political with severe Penalties and maketh us all one Catholick Church united in himself the Head 16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby 16. And as his one Body was crucified for both so he thereby reconcileth both to Gâ—d in one Body or Society which is his Church having abolished the Enmity 17. And came and preached peace to you which are afar off and to them that were nigh 17. And this Gospel of Reconciliation and Unity he hath by himself and his Apostles preached and offered Grace and Peace both to Gentiles and Jews 18. For through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father 18. For through his Merits Intercession and Covenant all Believers Jews and Gentiles are made the Children of God and are sealed by his Spirit of Adoption which is an Intercessor within us by whom we have access to God 19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God 19. And now this Reconciliation being made by Christ you Gentiles are no longer Strangers or Forreigners to the Church or peculiar People of God but are free Denizens Burgesses or enfranchised Citizens with the rest of the holy Society even Members of the Holy Catholick Church of Adopted ones which is as the Houshold of God 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone 20. And I may liken you not onely to the Houshold but to the Hoâ—se of God of which you are a living part built on the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets qualified by the Holy Ghost and authorised by Christ to call and gather his Catholick Church and so may secondarily be called its Foundation Christ himself being the primary Foundation or Chief Corner-stone 21. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. 21. In whom as the Head of Union all the Church of God being compact into one holy Society as it were of Living Stones is built riseth and groweth up to be an holy Temple to the Lord increasing to its perfection 22. In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 22. And as God called the Temple at Jerusalem his Dwelling so by the Spirit of Christ you also with all the rest of the Faithful are built up as a holy Temple in which by the same Spirit God will dwell Note That 1. The Catholick Church is not onely that which was once by the Policy of Emperours and Bishops called Catholick as National being in that Empire onely and under its Laws but as it containeth all Christians in the World 2. That it is Headed onely by Christ the Center of its Unity 3. That inspired Apostles and Prophets being the Mâ—ssengers of new Divine Revelation are its secondary Foundation by an Authority and Qualification proper to them and not extending to Bishops or their Councils who come after them 4. Note the great Dignity of the Church as resulting from this Foundation Christ and the Reconciliation wrought by him 5. That they that would destroy this Unity and Superstruction fight against Christ and would destroy the Church which is most notably done by setting up a false Head or Foundation or making false uncapable Terms of Union by the presumptuous Canons and Laws of Usurpers 6. That though this Church have no Uniting Head but Christ yet it must be compact as the Members of his Body and have one Faith Hope Baptism and Spirit of Love and abhor Division as Destruction CHAP. III. 1. FOr this cause I Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles 1. Having those great Encouragements I Paul even glory that I am Christs Prisoner for the Gentiles sake even for preaching the Gospel for their Conversion and Salvation Note That at once Paul was the Jews Prisoner as his Accusers and Persecutors and the Heathen Romans Prisoner as his Judges and Christs Prisoner both finally as suffering for his sake and obligatorily as Commissioned for a Persecuted Work and the Gentiles Prisoner finally as suffering for his Labours for their Salvation 2. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward 3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery as I wrote afore in few words 2 3. For I suppose you have heard how for your good God hath commissioned me to declare and dispence to you the Gospel of Grace and Gifts of the Spirit and by Revelation from Heaven by the Voice of Christ and inwardly by his Spirit made known to me the Mystery of Mans Redemption and the Calling of the Gentiles as I wrote briefly before 4 5. Whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit 6. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel 4 5 6. In which you may read my Explication of this Mystery and perceive that Christ hath acquainted me with it which in former Ages was not openly and clearly made known to Men as it is now by the Spirit revealed to the holy Apostles and Prophets who
more meet to be a Compassionate Helper the Example the Teacher and the Trust of them that must follow him through temptations and by his Merit and Victory hath obtained power to deliver them CHAP. III. WHerefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the apostle and high priest of our profession Christ Jesus 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house 1. Wherefore you who are holy Brethren by Faith and Dedication given up to Christ and in him made partakers of that Calling from Heaven which maketh you Heirs of Heaven study and consider Jesus Christ the great Apostle sent of God to be the prime Preacher of the Gospel and the High Priest and chief Guide and Mediator to Godward of our Religion and Profession who faithfully did all that belonged to his undertaken Office in sacrificing himself for our sins and fulfilling all Righteousness and conquering Satan and Death and ascending to intercede for us in Glory and sending down the Holy Ghost and making and sealing the Law of Faith even as Moses in his time was faithful though with disparity of Honour and Work Christ in his own House by a more perfect Administration and Moses but as a Steward 3. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house 3. For Christ is as much more honourable than Moses as the Maker and Master is than the House for Moses was but a Member of the Family but Christ the Maker and Master of it 4. For every house is builded by some man but he that built all things is God 4. All Families or Houses are founded by some man but he that built the Church is the same that built or made all things and that is God 5. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after 6. But Christ as a son over his own house 5 6. And Moses as a Servant was faithful for the Delivery and Confirmation of so much of God's Word as was to be spoken to the Jews by him but Christ as the Son and Heir and Master of the House as his own 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end 6. This House is the Church of which we are parts so be it we hold fast the confident Profession of our faith and the joy and glorying in our hopes of the promised Blessedness firm to the end 7. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice 8. Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness 9. When your fathers tempted me proved me and saw my works forty years 10. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said They do always err in their hearts and they have not known my ways 11. So I sware in my wrath They shall not enter into my rest 7 8 9 10 11. But seeing he will take none to dwell with him in Glory but those that persevere hear and consider what the Holy Ghost said to and of the Israelites To day c. Neglect not his present Call and your present Day to the hardening of your hearts as your Fathers did in the Wilderness by which God's Justice was engaged against them as a People whose hearts were habituated to evil and have not the obedient knowledge of his Ways and Works and Will So that he sware in his just displeasure that that Generation should not enter into the promised Land 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God 12. Take warning by these Israelites and see that there be not in any of you an evil unsound heart that is prepared by secret Unbelief to depart in Tryal from the Living God 13. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin 13. To this end one means appointed by God for your perseverance is speedily and daily to exhort and stir up one another the Pastors in the Church and Assemblies and all in their Places and Converse And the rather because Sin of which you are in danger is a deceitful thing and they that revolt are made believe that it is but a receiving of the Truth or a necessary Self-saving and no forsaking of Christ or Truth or Godliness N. Qu. But what if Rulers forbid us to meet daily for such Exhortation Answ God commandeth you to do it in the manner and time that the End requireth and no man can dispense with his Law The Christians for three hundred years assembled when forbidden Qu. But what if Christian Rulers forbid it Ans Christians have more Obligation than Heathens to do good but no more Authority to do evil or null God's Laws Qu. But what if Violence or Prisons restrain us Ans God requireth not Impossibilities 14. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end 14. We are iâ—itially made partakers of Christ as our Saviour but if we will attain Salvation by him we must hold the subsisting faith or the confidence in which we have begun or which is our Principle firm to the end For Perseverance is made a Condition of the Promise of Salvation 15. Whilst it is said To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation 16. For some when they had heard did provoke howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses 15 16. The words tell us that some that heard after Deliverance from Egypt provoked God but it was not all 17. But with whom was he grieved forty years was it not with them that had sinned whose carcases fell in the wilderness 17. With whom was God so displeased as Grief here signifieth Nothing displeaseth him but sin It was with backsliding disobedient unthankful murmurers that would not rest in the Will and Word and Providence of God but must have their own carnal will fulfilled and so God in Justice killed them in the Wilderness after so many Miracles had led them many years towards the promised Land Take heed lest you follow them in the like sin to greater punishment for abusing greater mercies 18 19. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief 18 19. It was the sinning Unbelievers that he sware should not enter and it was because of their Unbelief that they could not enter Take heed therefore lest ye fall by Unbelief in Tryal for there is more required to our compleat Salvation than to our first part in Christ CHAP. IV. 1. LEt us therefore fear lest a
with holy Resolution and soberly watch and keep up your Hope until the end for that glorious effect of Redemption and Grace which you shall see and enjoy at the day of Christ's glorious appearing which will answer all your Hopes 14. As obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance 14. And as obedient Children of God to whom you are reconciled no more living as you did in the time of your ignorance in fleshly lusts and worldly vice 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 16. Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 15 16. And as Children must be like their Father and they must please God who will be saved by him therefore as he that hath called you is a holy God and Saviour be ye a holy People for so God requireth Be holy for I am holy 17. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in fear 17. And if you call God your Father and call on him who without respect of persons for any worldly difference judgeth all men according to their works let the thoughts of his Holiness and future Judgment cause you to pass the time that you as Sojourners wait for Christ's coming in holy cautelous obedient fear 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 18 19. For the preciousness of the price which redeemed us tells us the great worth of our Salvation from sin and misery which was not with silver and gold or any corruptible price but it was with the precious blood of Christ the spotless Lamb of God that ye were redeemed from the vain Ceremonies and Traditions which you were bred up in and from your sinful conversation 20. Who verily was fore ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God 20 21. Whom God had sore-ordained to this blessed Office before the foundation of the World but though oft prophesied of was not incarnate and manifest in the flesh till these last times even for you that live since his coming who are not by him drawn as we are falsly accused from the true and only God but by him are taught the true knowledge of God and to believe that God to be God indeed wise good and almighty who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory and so that your Faith and Hope might be ultimately in God alone by Christ's Mediation 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 22. And as you have purified your Souls from former Errour and Sin by obeying the Gospel by the work of God's Spirit unto unfeigned love of Christian Brethren be sure to keep up that Love and with a pure heart and deep affection to love each other 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 23. Seeing you are not only Brethren by corruptible generation and relation but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God who liveth and abideth for ever and so must your incorruptible love to each other which is part of your incorruptible nature 24. For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away 25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you 24 25. For all flesh and all its glory is a fading dying thing like the grass and flower But God's Word is everlasting Truth as Christ the Author is and is our Guide to an Everlasting Life And this true Word is it which we preach to you by the Gospel and bespeaketh endless constancy in your holy love and obedience CHAP. II. 1. WHerefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil-speakings 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 2. Lay aside therefore and renounce all naughtiness and all deceit and hypocrisy or counterfeiting and all envy and all speaking evil of others And as new born babes desire and seek and drink in the rational Milk or intellectual without fraud and mixture that you may grow up to Salvation by it which the mixture of heresie or hypocrisie would vitiate and invectives against others would but turn it against your selves 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 3 4.5 And if you are Christians indeed and have had a Spiritual relish of the love of God in Christ you must suppose his Church to be like an House in which every stone is a living man and Christ is the chief Foundation stone as the Lord of Life on whom all the building is erected rejected indeed by the Jewish and Heathen Rulers but chosen of God to this blessed Office and more Precious than any Pearl and so coming to him the Foundation as so many living stones your selves you being cemented to him and to one another are made one Spiritual House of God yea as a Temple in which you are all Priests to offer Daily Sacrifice to God which he will accept through the Intercession of the great High Priest Jesus Christ For your Prayer and Praise may be thus accepted Think thus of Gods House and you may be for sweeping and repairing it but you will never be for dividing dismembring or separating from it 6. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 6. This the Scripture foretold saying I lay in Sion c. That is I set over the Church a Saviour and a King on whom the Church shall be sounded And none shall be put to shame by the frustration of their Faith Hope and Obedience who put their trust in him 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner 8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to
them which stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed 7 8. To you who believe as he is esteemed precious so will he be in the riches of his grace to you But to them that obey not the Gospel but are unbelieving rejecters of him he whom the builders the Jewish Rulers did refuse is made the foundation of the Church and they shall feel his Kingly Power He is that Stone on which they stumble and fall and that Rock on which the Adversaries dash themselves in pieces even they that unbelievingly reject and quarrel against the Gospel and disobey it To which destruction not to their sin the righteous God appointed them 9. But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 9. But as the Israelites were by their proper Covenant of peculiarity separated to God from the rest of the World and called a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People especially as typifying the Christian Church so are you more eminently a chosen Seed of Christ by his Spirit a dignified Kingdom of Priests who are all designed to reign with Christ and all may have access to God a Nation or sort of men sanctified by dedication to God though all the World be his you are his peculiarly and have the Covenant and Priviledges of Peculiarity having greater mercies than the rest of the World that as Priests you may stand daily before God and celebrate his praises who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance and unbelief and wickedness into that marvellous Light by which you know him the Father of Lights 10. Which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 10. Who were under the Roman Captivity and scattered over the Earth and alienated from God by unbelief but now are made Christ's Free-men and Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and have obtained that mercy which unbelievers do reject 11. Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 11. But you are yet Strangers and Sojourners in the Countreys where you are scattered and indeed on Earth therefore I earnestly beseech you to abstain from that fleshly pleasure and life which are usually the fruit of wealth and prosperity in the World and are warring Enemies against the holy Inclinations Motions and Works of the Holy Spirit 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 12. And let your conversation among the Heathens be so just and decent and exemplary that they that now speak against you as if you were a sort of bad deluded contemptible men through prejudice and malicious same may by your excelling all others in good works rejoyce and give glory to God when he shall visit you with deliverance from your oppressors and shall exalt you 13. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream 14. Or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 13 14. Be subject to every Civil Humane Ruler tho Heathen whether it be to Caesar as supream or those subordinate Rulers who are sent by him for that which is truly the Office of Magistrates to which God impowereth them which is to be punishers of evil doers and praisers or encouragers of them that do well 15. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 15. Your peace and safety is not to be look't for by resisting and conquering the Powers that are over you but by due subjection and patience while you obey God to silence those ignorant foolish men who falsly reproach you as a turbulent and unruly sort of People for differing from them in Religion and obeying God before men 16. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God 16. You are indeed Christ's Free-men delivered from true servitude to Sin and Satan but you are God's Servants and must obey him in using your Christian Liberty to his glory in your appointed way of duty and not as a covering for any evil 17. Honour all men Love the brotherhood Fear God Honour the King 17. In short Give all men their due respect Love all Christians especially Christian Societies or Churches with a special love Fear God above all with reverent obedience and under him give that eminent honour to Kings and Rulers which is their due 18. Servants be subject to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward 18. Christian Servants must be subject to their Masters whether Christian or Heathen with due respect and reverence even to those that are froward and wrathful and abuse them and not only to the good and gentle Note That this binds not free Servants to continue with such Masters when they may have better but only Slaves that may not change and also voluntary Servants till their time of Service be at an end 19. For this is thank-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully 20. For what glory is it if when ye be buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when you do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God 19. For this God accepteth as a rewardable act of Obedience when in conscience of God's commanding patience you indure wrongful suffering 20. Can you think it a rewardable thing as of any special worth to take it patiently when you are beaten for your faults c. Note What then shall we think of those Servants even the religious sort that can neither bear stroaks nor words when they deserve them but will repine and swell with passion if they be but reproved for their faults yea for their sins against God and will not humbly confess them 21. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps 21. For your very Calling of Christianity bindeth you to this obedient Patience in imitation of Christ who in his suffering for us became our Example whom we must follow 22. Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 23. Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 22 23. Who never did ill in word or deed and yet being scorned and reviled he returned not to them the like nor gave them one ill word for another nor
built for Jupiter and so continued three years and a half as Antiocbus prophaned it Dan. 7.25 Say others The outer Court and the City left to the Gentiles is that great part of the visible Church left under the Papacy to such gross Idolatry as that it hath but the name of Christian as â—loathing restored Gentilâ—sme and is rejected of God Some take the 42 months literally for a certain time of three years and a half and some for uncertain time Christ was three years and a half in his ministeriall labour And this number is five times here recited Therefore like to be strictly meant Some old Fathers and some Papists understand it strictly of the reign of an Antichrist which they think is yet to come some of the time of the Papal reign which they say will be 1260 years beginning between 365. and 455. and ending between 1625 and 1715 in which space Babylon will fall Others state the time differently 3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth 3. Note There is great diversity of opinions who these witnesses are And yet most Protestants think that their time is past or the most of it and this prophecy fullfilled And Prophecies use to be plain when they are fulfilled Some new men say that they were the two Churches in Jerusalem of the Jewish and the Greek Language and their two Bishops who preached all that time against the sins of Jews and Gentiles For they think that the Jews and Greeks not understanding the same Language had in Jerusalem Antioch Rome Alexandria and other great Cities two Churches and Bishops Others that the two witnesses are Enoch and Elias that shall come when Antichrist cometh Others that they are the Old and New Testament which the Papacy shall oppose or as others the Preachers of the Old and New Testament named two because but sew but yet enough to promote the Reformation Brightman saith It is the Scriptures and the Assemblies of the Faithful Others that it is the Godly Magistracy and Ministry which the Papacy will cast down Others that God will hereafter send two with the Spirit of Enoch and Elias in whom all this shall be literally fulfilled Others that it is the Martyrs that have in several times opposed Popery to the death Called two in allusion to many old couples of Witnesses Moses and Aaron Caltb and Joshua Ezra and Nehemiah Haggai and Zachary Zerubbabel and Joshua to which Zech. 4.11 this Text specially relateth Moses and Elias on the Mount c. Clothed in Sackcloth is doing their Office in a time of great affliction And all this some think may be applied to divers couples that God hath used in divers times and parts of his Church As to the Waldenses and Albigenses to John Hus and Jerome of Prague to John Frederick Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hassia long imprisoned by Charles the fifth and after delivered to the Lutherans and the reformed to King Edward 6. and his Uncle Protector Duke of Somerset c. Even as Christ sent out his Disciples by two and two Paul and Barnabas c. Lira's conceit that Silverius and Mennas were the two witnesses against the Eutychians is vain 4. These are the two olive-trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth 4. These are resembled to the two mentioned Zech. 4. These are as Olive Branches that empty themselves into the Lamps even the Servants of the Lord of the World for his Church 5. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed 5. If any will persecute or silence them God will revenge their cause it refers to Elias that brought down fire from Heaven to destroy the Captains and their fifties 2. Kings 1.10 and to Moses Num. 16. Or say others The word in their mouths shall be as fire against all false Doctrines and Corruptions 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will 6. And the Power that God gave their Ministry and reforming endeavours and the revenge that God will use against their persecutors were expressed to me as resembling Elias whose prayer stopt the rain for three years and a half and the plagues which God by Moses inflicted on Egypt Christ intimating this Matth. 17. When Moses the chief Law-giver and Elias the chief Prophet were the two great witnesses of his Glory And it is notable that Godly Magistrates and Godly Ministers have usually prospered together and fallen together and Magistracy and Ministry been together corrupted 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified 7 8. Note Christs witnesses Holy Magistrates and Ministers shall be marvellously preserved till they have finished their Testimony and they have done their work And then they may be destroyed by the Servants of the Devil and exposed to common scorn and perhaps be denyed buryall in the places where they preach't and were wonderfully blest and their enemies punished And this will seem to carnal men to be Gods disowning them and all that they did But the same sort of Men shall be raised again revive their work with more success and again silence the deluded insulting enemies These words where our Lord was crucified seem to favour their Exposition who apply all this to Jerusalem But most Protestants take it for the Roman state of Papal corruption And some by their carcasses say is meant the dead carcass of the Scripture or Religion or Assemblies which only is left among them But it seemeth to me to mean persons And whether the same thing as this killing and reviving the witnesses may not be done at Jerusalem and elsewhere again and again in several ages the Church having had its daies and night I yet know not 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves 9. Say some They shall literally be cast out inhumanely unburyed say others They shall be politically slain deposed silenced imprisoned and cast by as dead and useless And not only their persecuting enemies but the deluded rabble and people shall see their oppression and insult over them and not suffer them to be restored or honoured 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to
another because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth 10. The enemies of the Church and the ungodly rabble shall triumph and rejoice together in their revenge and conquest of these Prophets and that in the revengeful sense of their own suffering by them whose preaching was a torment to them who by Godly Magistrates also had been punished or restrained from their sin Note 1. Oh how madly do the wicked rejoice for their victory against the men that would have saved them 2. One of the great causes of the violence of Silencers and Persecutors is the remembrance of their own sufferings by godly Magistrates and Ministers by Punishments and Reformation 11. And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them 11. Either the same men or men of the same Spirit and Office were restored to the same Power and Works to the great wonder of good men and the great consternation of the bad 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them Come up hither And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld them 12. The Voice of Christ say some of the chief Rulers say others Come up hither that is say some to Heaven as the reward of their former Service as Christ ascended in a cloud and as Moses was called away and buried by God and Elias carried up Moses not seeing what Joshua must see and Elias being only translated from a wicked Generation before Jehu executed God's Judgments on them so Magistrates and Ministers that do great things for the Church are usually taken up to Heaven before they see the desired issue which is left to their Successors Not David but Solomon must build the Temple Or as others come up into a state of greater prosperity and peace which is as a Heaven in comparison of their Persecution Or as most Protestants come now into the desired state of the visible Church reformed from Popery and Impiety Their advancement convâ—nced some and terrified others of their Adversaries 13. And the same hour was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven 13. Say some Adrian rooted out those Jews that did not turn Christians and set up the Image of a Swine at the Gate to put them in despair upon which the rest turned Christians and glorified God Say others nine parts of Rome were destroyed before and under the Papacy only the tenth part of old Rome was left and that fell by this Earthquake Say others the first stirs by Preaching Disputing and War about Religion quickly cast down the tenth part of the Roman Church and then many others turned Protestants Some think it was the fall of old Heathen Rome and some think that the killing of the Witnesses by Papal Cruelty is yet to come and that Popery shall be restored a few years and then fall for ever It seems to relate to the case of Elijah and Eliâ—ha after whose time the House of Ahab dreadfully fell by Jehu 14. The second wo is past and behold the third wo cometh quickly 14. Note Thus far some think that the Revelation shewed John nothing but what was done many years before and visible to all men there that is that all was but the destruction of the Jews and that of these three last Woes the first was by the Zealots the second by Titus in which saith Josephus eleven hundred thousand persons were killed by Sword and Famine besides the Captives carried away The third by Adrian when the Faction of Barchochiba was cast out of Jerusalem and were pursued in which some say five hundred thousand were killed some say eight hundred thousand and some twelve hundred thousand Others say that all the Woes respected later times 15 And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever 15. The foresaid new Expositors take this for the Triumph of the Church for the Jews destruction and the ceasing of their Persecution and the uniting of the Jew and Gentile Christians in one Church at Jerusalem where Adrian gave them that freedom by which they prospered Others think that this Verse speaketh of the Christian Emperours owning Christianity and putting down Heathenism Others think it speaks of the great Success of the Reformation against Popery Others think it speaks of Christ's thousand years Reign And others think it speaketh of the last Judgment I see not why we may not take it for the flourishing of the Gospel in the Catholick Church begun when Persecution abated but most notably promoted by Constantine 16. And the four and twenty elders which sat before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshipped God 17. Saying We give thee thanks O Lord God almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned 18. And the nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets and to the saints and them that fear thy name small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth 16 17 18. The twenty four Bishops of Judea say some Rather the Ministers of the Catholick Church represented by four and twenty Elders in the Vision or the whole Church say others And those in Heaven say others The Reign mentioned is variously expounded as aforesaid 1. As against the Jews 2. As against the Heathen Emperors 3. As against the Pope by the Reformation 4. As of the Fall of Mahometanism and the Turkish Empire 5. As of the Millenium and the Resurrection and Judgment that shall be then 6. As of the last Judgment 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings and an earth-quake and great hail 19. The Vision of the opened Temple in Heaven signifieth the Freedom given to the Gospel against Persecutors and Corrupters and the pure Preaching and Profession of it and God's owning his Covenant and Church by his eminent Blessing and the Lightnings c. signifie the great Manifestation of Christ's Power for his Church in the Commotions and Changes in the World and his Judgments on their Enemies as followeth But in what Instances and Periods of Time Expositors differ as aforesaid CHAP. XII 1. ANd there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars 1. Some Popes and their Flatterers have said that by the